Thunder eyeing revenge against Sixers

No longer the whipping boys of the Big Bash League, Sydney Thunder are planning revenge over the star-studded Sydney Sixers at ANZ Stadium on Saturday night.

Lumped with three straight wooden spoons after going 19 games without a victory until the penultimate round last year, the Thunder are on a high and talking up their title chances after opening the new season with a 56-run trouncing of Brisbane Heat.

Veterans Mike Hussey (96) and Jacques Kallis (97 not out) stole the show with a 160-run opening stand on Sunday night, but the Thunder have plenty more trumps up their sleeve.

One of those is rejuvenated paceman Pat Cummins, who believes he is back bowling as fast as ever before following four years battling injuries.

Cummins defected from the Sixers this year and can't wait to go head to head with old teammates.

"The Sydney Sixes are made up of a lot of the NSW Blues squad so it's going to be sort of mates against mates," Cummins said.

"The Thunder have never beaten the Sixers before so there's going to be a lot of rivalry there. I think we owe them one."

Cummins said judging by the 10,000-odd fans at ANZ Stadium on Sunday night, it won't be long before the two Sydney teams develop an A-League-like rivalry.

"I don't know how many fans were there but everyone was dressed in green. I know they Sixers fans, they all dress in pink," he said.

"So the supporters are all really, really passionate and certainly most of Sydney have picked a side.

"There's no sitting on the fence, so I think there will be quite a lot of rivalry."